Though the schedule gets tougher starting Thursday, Georgia Tech has performed well enough so far this season to break into the top 25 of the 1-125 re-rank this week. / Daniel Shirey, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

Alabama's average performance against Colorado State â?? average by the program's immense standards â?? won't lead to any movement at the top of the USA TODAY Sports 1-125 re-ranking, even if a few other title contenders, like LSU and Ohio State, breezed through convincing victories against weaker competition.

Why? Because it's only been a week since Alabama topped Texas A&M on the road; better yet, the Crimson Tide's mediocrity in dispatching the Rams could very well be the result of a brief non-conference lull, one sandwiched between the victory in College Station and another key SEC date with West Division rival Mississippi.

Alabama also benefits from the lack of marquee games on Saturday's schedule. Ohio State looked impressive, true, but the Buckeyes beat Florida A&M; likewise with a team like Louisville, which had no trouble cleaning up Florida International.

There are a few undefeated teams with issues, however. One is Michigan, which again needed 60 minutes to sneak past unimposing and forgettable Connecticut. Another is Northwestern, which has slogged through back-to-back wins against Western Michigan and Maine â?? two teams better than Florida A&M, but not much worse than the Huskies.

A word of caution: Though there are four weekends in the books, it's still somewhat difficult to get a proper gauge on several FBS teams â?? like Michigan, for example, which looked title-worthy against Notre Dame but anything but during the last two weeks. The 1-125 re-ranking looks clearer today than after the first week of the 2013 season, but the cream rises to the top once we enter the heart of conference play.

- No. 93 Air Force (No. 79). Air Force is the only team in the FBS with three conference losses. The Falcons have dug themselves into a huge hole in the race for bowl eligibility.

- No. 74 Arkansas State (No. 48). ASU didn't just lose to Memphis; the Red Wolves were manhandled from start to finish, on offense, defense and special teams.

- No. 45 Northern Illinois (No. 33). The Huskies should very well hit another gear once the calendar turns to MAC play. For now, however, NIU has looked very beatable against Idaho and Eastern Illinois.

Paul Myerberg, a national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @PaulMyerberg.